Bakker guides fortunes

January 29, 2001

of prep bowling program

By MIKE DUNN

GAYLORD - Lisa Bakker believes the day will come when most Michigan high schools recognize bowling as a lettered sport.

Bowling is gaining in popularity statewide among high-school students. In the local area, there has been a healthy response to the program that is offered for prep bowlers each winter through the Gaylord Bowling Center.

Bakker, a U.S.A. bronze-certified instructor, has been guiding the fortunes of the Gaylord area prep bowling program since the program started in the winter of 1999. In that time, she has worked with bowlers from all of the area schools and she has seen an increase in interest among both boys and girls.

"Bowling is a way of offering kids another alternative," says Bakker, who also wears the hat of Gaylord Bowling Center youth director. "Often times, it's a sport for kids who don't participate in other sports. It gives them something positive to do, something to be a part of and feel good about."

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Even though the Michigan High School Athletic Association does not yet recognize bowling officially, the bowling leagues that high-school students are part of around the state must adhere to specific standards.

For example, a team must have at least six boys or girls from the same school to be part of the Northern Michigan High School Bowling Conference.

This year, Gaylord has a boys team and a girls team, but is the only school with enough bowlers to qualify to participate in the conference.

Bakker would like to see teams from Vanderbilt, Joburg, Wolverine and St. Mary participate as well. Individual bowlers from those schools have competed in the past, but are unable to this year because of new conference regulations.

"If there are enough bowlers from one of the other schools, they could become part of the conference, too," Bakker said. "All it takes is six boys or six girls."

There are six conference meets scheduled between January and late March. There are also regional meets set up statewide, followed by a state meet.

Gaylord has 10 boys and six girls taking part in the program in 2001. Bakker and fellow coach Joe Kerckaert, another bronze-certified instructor, have practice with the teens twice a week aside from coaching them in the meets.

"Coaching bowling is very rewarding," said Bakker, who has been a certified bowling instructor for 18 years and who is an excellent bowler in her own right. "It's great to watch their skills develop and to see the progress that they make."

A prime example is Lisa's own daughter Lydia, a GHS senior. At midseason last year, Lydia's average was 118. Her average by the end of last season was above 160, and she is continuing to upgrade her average this season.

Similarly, seniors Steve Franckowiak and Aaron Clark, junior Dave Wiggins and sophomore J.R. Raymond, among others, have made remarkable strides while bowling for Gaylord in the NMHSBC.

Bakker would like to see the program keep growing.

"Obviously, we'd like to get as many kids as we can involved in the program," she said. "When the high schools finally get to the point of recognizing bowling as a lettered sport, that will help a great deal.

"We're not asking the high schools to fund the sport," she added. "Just recognize it as a lettered sport."